Give1Save1 - An Interview

I've said before the adoption community is amazing and supportive and familial. Give1Save1 is the epitome of all that. Each Monday they post a new family and ask you for a dollar. "Adoption for the people, by the people." as the website says.

One of the things I love about Give1Save1 is that Beth, the mama who started it, did so while she was still in the process of adopting herself. She was focusing on others while her journey was still going on. That's what I'm talking about.

I asked Beth back in August if she would answer a few questions for me about Give1Save1 and I am just. now. posting. Forgive me for withholding this awesomeness from you for so long.

Can you explain the concept behind give1save1?
Well, in the adoption community, MANY of us are supportive and want to help, but we're fundraising ourselves. We want to help, but we're stretched too. So I figured if we could just give a little but be consistent with it and viral with it, then it would make an impact for just a few families. Then as other people approach their crunch time they reciprocate. It's all God's money anyway, so it seems like we could shift and share to accomplish something big for a family at a time.

When did you start give1save1 and why? 
It's actually really really silly. I started it in June of 2011 when we started our adoption process. I've always been a blogger and a blog hopper and I follow some of the 'big ones'. And then when you follow them for so long you trust these chicks and feel like they're your friends (maybe I'm a total freak here). But I noticed one day that Pioneer Woman was once again giving away a KitchenAid and she had 40,000 people commenting to win this thing. I thought "if P-Dub would just tell everyone to give me a dollar they would totally do it and my adoption would be done". But she wouldn't and neither would Holly from Decor8 or Rachel Ray or anybody. So I figured I needed my own blog with a massive following and every week I would tell them to give a dollar. OK, so the massive part is really like 300, so that's not that massive, but we're growing!

How many families have been featured? 
Around 60

How much total money has been raised? 
Over $100,000 but I can't keep track! I'm starting to though, just out of curiosity. :)

You just announced growing to include resources for families adopting from the US, the Caribbean, Asia and Europe, in addition to Africa. What is your hope for Give1Save1? 
My eventual hope is that we'll be able to provide big numbers ($10K consistently) for 5 families a week, educate and inspire about Christian adoption, and start to fund more projects and support more ministries in addition to personal adoptions.

Where is your family in the adoption process? 
We've adopted a 7 month old boy named Jude! We're just waiting for him to clear Embassy and then we'll be over there so quick! UPDATE: Jude is home!!!

Hop on over to Give1Save1. Give $1. Save 1 orphan. It's that simple.

Orphan Sunday 2012

One week from today thousands of events will echo across America and around the globe, all sharing a single goal: that God's steadfast love for the orphan will also stir in our hearts.  From many sources, one voice. Orphan Sunday is an opportunity to excite family, community, church and friends to God's call to care for the orphan. As Orphan Sunday approaches, we pray you will dedicate time on one Sunday in honor of the fatherless. Here are a few helpful and practical recourses for how to spend an Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans' Orphan Sunday.org website: Partnership Packages - Ideas and action points from over 20 different orphan, adoption & foster care organizations so you can find an activity that fits your church. (Be sure to check out Lifesong's Partnership Packages as well!) The Orphan's Table - Experiences impact us more deeply than words. On Orphan Sunday, share a meal eaten by orphans around the world.  Gather with family, small group or church for the meal, discussion and prayer. More Resources - Check out OrphanSunday.org for other church resources such as sermon starters, worship songs, bible studies, bulletin inserts, prayer guides, and much more! We are hopeful you and your church family will honor orphans by participating in Orphan Sunday!

one year ago...

 Ethiopia denied our case. You can read my post from that day below.

God is so mysterious; if you had asked me a year ago if our son was in Ethiopia I would have said yes. If you had asked me if today we would have two foster kids I would have said no. If you had asked if we had a son in the DRC with the same name as our bio son I would have laughed out loud.

His ways are so much higher, but one year ago today my heart was broken and now that day (and the two and a half year detour through Ethiopia) is a part of our story and what has brought us here.

I am SO SO SO glad to be here. 

I'm not sure how to start this post. It's one of those posts that as "prospective adoptive parents", you never want to write. (I hate that term, by the way - are you any less "real" parents than a pregnant couple? You wouldn't refer to a pregnant women as a "prospective mom" would you?)

Yesterday, Ethiopia denied our case.

We cannot appeal.

Our son is not in Ethiopia.

As I write those words tears swell up in my eyes. How could we have been so sure and been so wrong? I do not know. Sometimes when I ponder that question I become frightened by it.

I do know that one day it will all make sense, that God is faithful and that we are being obedient to His calling on our lives. But oh how frightening that can be some days. Trusting in faith can feel both scary and secure.

I'm thankful that William has been a rock during this difficult day and a half. When I called him to tell him the news, I explained that our agency suggested we consider the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) program. Without hesitation he said "Call the Congo Lady." (there is a program director for each country, so the Congo program director is, in our house, "the Congo Lady") His conviction over our direction is so strong that the 2 1/2 year $10,000 detour through Ethiopia didn't phase him a bit. I however, wondered around the house aimlessly in my pajamas all afternoon.

My mind has raced with thoughts. I've emailed practically everyone I know in the adoption world to get their advice and feedback. I've googled. I've called. I've questioned. I've prayed, but not nearly enough.

I've thought about the fact that cancer exists because we live in a sinful fallen world. And orphans exist because we live in a sinful fallen world. And these two symptoms of sin are colliding in our world in such a perplexing way.

My heart breaks for the children in Ethiopia, who will wait on the streets or in orphanages for longer - possibly forever - because cancer survivors or parents with heart conditions or a history of depression or kidney problems, are deemed unfit to parent them.

It makes me angry.

And then I remember that nothing comes into my life that has not passed through the hands of my Father in heaven. And that He loves the children in Ethiopia far more than I ever could. And it drives me to my knees.

So, as William advised, I called the Congo Lady. She gave me the basic lowdown on the DRC program. In some ways, it sounds very similar to the way the Ethiopia program did 4 years ago when we picked it. They have fairly reasonable restrictions and none of them have to do with being a cancer survivor. Last night I stayed up way to late reading about the DRC, agencies that have programs in that country, reading blogs of people who have/are adopting from there... Today I called the Congo lady back and drilled her pretty good. Since I've been in this international adoption world for a while now and my emotions are a little, shall we say, raw right now, I asked her the hard questions and then I questioned her answers. She passed the drilling.

I still can't believe that after this long I am researching agencies and countries. But. Here. We. Are.

At this point, we are 90% sure that we will transfer to the DRC program. Once we decide, I will do a post on the program and the differences between it and Ethiopia. There are many.

One of my hesitations, is that I feel a little guilty about switching countries so quickly. And that before yesterday I knew practically NOTHING about the DRC. I knew nothing about the country, the kids, where they come from and why, what they have experienced, their culture, their language and religion - I didn't even know the capital. Sure I can learn, but I feel almost like we are using them, and their poverty and third world situation, to get a kid. And while we love our son already, wherever he is, I feel guilty about moving on so quickly. About not spending more time grieving over the loss of Ethiopia in our lives.

I've even wondered, and a few people have likened our experience to having a miscarriage, did we have a son in Ethiopia 3 years ago or 2 years ago or 1 year ago? Did we? I'm not sure that's a healthy path for my mind to take and I don't want to make light of what experiencing a miscarriage must feel like. But I feel a loss and feel the need to grieve it. Whether there was ever a living breathing Ethiopian boy meant for us I will never know.

Congo 2012 - October

Thank you does not come close to expressing our gratitude to those of you who are interceding on behalf of Moses!

We have no doubt the progress we have made in the last month is because of your prayers. We've jumped from step #4 to step #6!

Please join us today, October 12th, as we fast and pray for our little one in the Congo!
 

Please pray Moses would be protected - physically and spiritually.

Pray that his little body would stay healthy.

Pray that his food would give him the nutrition he needs.

Pray for his caretakers, that they would be kind and loving.

Pray for our attorney, that he would be timely, diligent and communicative.

Pray for our agency, that they would not grow weary in their labor for the children of the DRC.

If you'd like one of these little cards for your fridge, car, favorite book, etc. please email your physical address to wordfromthewallaces AT gmail DOT com

broken system. sovereign God.

We officially have two FOSTER KIDS!

Never did I think I would be so excited and relieved to get kids into a broken system. God has confirmed we are on the path He has chosen for us and for these boys and while it is not the path we have chosen or expected, it is paved with His holy footprints having gone before us.

(If you're altogether confused about what and who I am talking about read here and here and here.)

I'll be honest, there are moments when I am frightened by the fact that the boys are in the custody of the state. That, while we can now take them to the doctor, enroll them in school and get them the counseling they need, we are still not "in control".

But then I remember, or someone lovingly reminds me, that we are never in control. Of anything. You'd think the past four years would have taught me that, huh?!

So here we are. In the midst of a broken situation inside a broken system. But the glorious thing about being here is that God has to work.

We can do nothing.

NOTHING.

God has to show up and He has to work.

He will either work through a broken system or He will work through broken people and breathe life into a broken family.

I don't know the Lord's ways. They are SO MUCH higher than my own.

I do know that He is able and I am trusting Him to be willing to work on behalf of these precious boys for their good and for His glory. The system may be broken but my God is sovereign.

“But God doesn't call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through.” ― Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God 

waiting: month five

We are alive.

I thought I should start there since the past month I have taken an unintended hiatus from the blog.

Let me say this: it's been crazy. We are surviving. 

I'm praying that soon we will get into some kind of normal and I can get back into a routine of posting.

This past month of waiting goes down as the easiest thus far. In part due to the level of crazy in our house but mostly because we have made quite a bit of progress in the past month!

One month ago we were waiting on step #4 - filling for the first judgement. As of today we are on day 17 of the first 30 day wait period! Step #6!

We are certain that your prayers are speeding things along! Keep 'em up!

ps. By mid week I should be able to post a more informative update about our extra boys. Things are moving along with them as well - stay tuned!